Due to an accident that permanently damaged my nuvi 270 (don’t ask, but it was totally my fault), I was put in the situation where I had to buy another GPS. The base model from Garmin right now is the nüvi 205 and that’s the one I bought. The 2×5 (i.e. 205, 215, 255, etc.) is the updated generation from the older 2×0 line (200, 250, 260, 270, etc.) If a nüvi model starts with a 2 and ends with a 0, that’s the older one. If it starts with a 2 and ends with 5, that’s the current generation.

It is really interesting what you get now compared to before.

Price

I bought this for $139.99 with free shipping from NewEgg. Here’s their listing. I don’t know whether or not the free-ship promo is still going on or if the price has dropped as they do change things there from time to time. Considering a unit with the features of the 205 cost well over $300 less than a year ago, this is a good deal.

Features

Upcoming turn arrow

This is the first non-widescreen screen Garmin unit I’ve used that has directional arrows notifying the direction of the next turn while navigating even if it cannot be seen on the map due to distance. Previously this feature was only limited to certain upper-grade widescreen units.

Looks like this (notice the top left of screen).

The look of the arrow depends on what type of turn it is appropriate to the road type.

None of the “c” series StreetPilots have this and many nüvi models don’t either, but all the 2×5′s do.

Terrain Map View

This is only available in 2-D mode and only if you’re zoomed way back on the map. I rate this feature a “ho hum” because it’s more eye candy than anything else. Cool, yes, but not particularly useful. I suppose if you were traveling long distance thru a mountainous regions you’d have need for it.. maybe.

Looks like this (note the green “crumpled” looking stuff, that’s all terrain):

None of the StreetPilots that I know of ever had this feature.

Most older nüvi models don’t, either.

Zoom buttons relocated to better places

Note the screen shot above. Look at the plus/minus button on top right stacked on top of each other. This is a good improvement, because before these buttons were opposite each other on the top left/right of the screen.

Speed Limit “Signs”

On roads where the GPS “knows” the speed limit, a speed limit “sign” will be displayed at the bottom left.

Looks like this:

I’ve read on several reviews that people either love or hate this feature. I’ve also read that on some roads the speed limit is listed incorrectly depending where you are in the United States.

For what it’s worth, in the Tampa Bay area of Florida the speed limits listed are correct. And I personally like the feature.

Drawback: You can’t turn this feature off. Would be nice if you could.

Better icons

Icons in the system are far more informative to let you know what does what.

From the screen shot above, it is obvious what button means “stop” (as in to stop navigating a route), what means “detour” and so on. Yes there is text under each icon but the friendly colors and symbols are a welcome addition.

The menu system aside from “Where To?” also follow suit with lots of user friendliness abound.

Satellite Signal Screen

This is also the first non-widescreen Garmin automotive GPS I’ve used that has this feature.

All widescreen Garmin automotive GPS units to the best of my knowledge can access the signal screen by pressing and holding the signal indicator at top left of the “Where To?” screen. In the 205, same thing. You go to “Where To?”, press and hold the signal bar indicator at top left, and the screen appears.

Looks like this:

This is one of those GPS-geeky things that GPS geeks like myself just like to see. Useful? Depends on your point of view I suppose.

Note 1: My resolution is usually way better than 54 feet.  I took that screenshot while inside and not outside.

Note 2: Yes, you finally get elevation on a basic unit!

Automatic Time Zone Adjustment

Users of previous-generation Garmin GPS units always have to manually enter in the time zone for wherever they are. With the 2×5 series it’s automatic. This is especially useful for those that travel from zone to zone periodically and/or live close to where a zone “border” is.

“Hotfix” Technology

For many GPS users this is a really big deal. It has everything to do with signal acquisition time.

The technical description of Hotfix means that the GPS stores long-term ephemeris prediction information.

The layman’s description: Hotfix “guesses” better at where GPS satellites will be and therefore acquires a signal faster.

The stupidly easy description: It’s the difference between waiting 2 minutes for a signal and less than 20 seconds.

To note, it is still unlikely this will cure signal acquisition ills for those who drive minivans. A very common complaint from minivan drivers who use GPS is that the unit (no matter who makes it) will drop signal constantly and for apparently no reason. Trust me, there’s a reason. There’s extra stuff in the safety cage for your van and it blocks GPS signals. So your “five-star crash test rated” car is the reason your GPS doesn’t work or works poorly. Your only option is to use an external GPS antenna. And no, the 205 does not have an external antenna port (but other upper-model nüvi units do).

If you drive a minivan and use GPS now, I strongly suggest trying whatever GPS you currently have in another non-minivan vehicle first before blaming the GPS itself.

“Where Am I?”

This is available in some Garmins but not in any 2×0 unit. But it is available in all 2×5 units.

The “Where Am I?” icon is from the “Tools” menu:

…and it does exactly what you think it does. It tells you the closest known physical address:

…along with the closest hospitals, police stations and gas stations by pressing the accompanying icons.

Best use of this feature? If you have to call a tow truck, all you have to do is relay the information seen on this screen from the 205. That is unless you’re somewhere in the boonies where there are no houses, highways, interstates or businesses for miles and miles (a rare occurrence at best).

ecoRoute

ecoRoute is a new feature on the 2×5 series. It’s available from “Tools” and looks like this:

Note: If you don’t have this option, you need to update the firmware. Download Garmin’s USB drivers first, then the WebUpdater next, plug in your GPS to your PC via USB cable, wait for it to detect properly (takes less than a minute the first time you do it), run the WebUpdater, let it download the update, disconnect the GPS when done, boot it up and you’ll have the option there afterward. And yes, it’s all free.

What ecoRoute does is gas mileage calculation and to be honest it’s a super-cool feature. I’m not going to explain all the features of it (that would take way too long), but you can read up the supplemental Garmin document here (that’s a PDF link by the way).

If you’re saying to yourself, “Hey.. I haven’t seen this on other web sites concerning the 205.. what gives?”

The reason is because this is a very new feature that wasn’t there before. In fact the supplemental doc was released January 2009. That’s how recent it is.

An example of ecoRoute in use:

I start a “Driving Challenge”. The GPS will score me from 1 to 100 based on the way I drive. If I’m driving “green”, the icon displayed while driving will be green. If not, it will be yellow, then red.

Whenever you’re stopped, it’s always red because if the engine is running and you’re not moving (i.e. you’re idling), you’re wasting gas.

While moving, you gain points unless if you’re speeding.

This is what it looks like while on the map:

Note the leaf at bottom right. Unfortunately I couldn’t get this to show anything other than a zero in simulation mode (you need to be actually driving to see it display otherwise), but you get the idea.

When you’re stopped, you see the zero. While driving the score number goes up and the leaf changes color as noted above.

Reports with your score are available from the GPS after you stop your “challenge”. Additionally, reports are stored in a “reports” folder on the GPS itself which are accessible via USB when plugged in. Do enough “challenges” and the unit will tell you what your “best days” were gas-saving wise.

This is by far the absolute cheapest way to do electronic gas mileage calculation without using a ScanGauge II (which is $170 by the way).

When calibrated correctly (more on that a in a moment), the unit based on your driving habits will actually tell you how much gas you will have spent to travel to a destination before actually going there, like this:

Pretty slick, eh?

Calibrating the 205 is easy. All you have to know is what your EPA mile-per-gallon ratings are for your vehicle and enter them in. Don’t know what they are? Not a problem. Go to www.fueleconomy.gov and see the Find a Car section. As long as you have a vehicle made in the year 1985 or later, the mileage ratings for your car or truck will be listed.

ecoRoute will give you a serious wake-up call in short order on how much gas you waste when driving.

I could also see this being a very good thing to have if teaching a teen driver. That little leaf will instantly let you know you’re “failing” if you have a lead-foot.

Faster processor, faster updating, better frames-per-second

The processor in the 2×5 is fast. Route calculation times are very quick, the map screen updates with more frames-per-second and overall performance is outstanding.

For a “base” unit, it certainly doesn’t feel like one. No question there.

Performance

You simply cannot get better performance in this price range. Not possible. Not in the United States anyway.

And there’s a reason I say that.

Garmin uses NAVTEQ maps. TomTom uses TeleAtlas maps (as far as I know).

It has been suggested more than a few times in various circles that NAVTEQ data works better in the US while TeleAtlas data works better in the UK.

Whether this is true or not, I have no idea.

Generally speaking, Garmin does have the best GPS routing ability in the United States. As far as the UK is concerned, I couldn’t say because I’ve never been there, much less used a Garmin GPS in those parts.

In the US, a Garmin GPS with the latest map updates and properly updated firmware will obliterate any other GPS unit in terms of performance, hands down. Garmin GPSes may not have all the whiz-bang features other GPS units do, but its core function as a navigation assistant is what it does best. And said honestly, that’s what matters the most.

And yes it is notably faster in all respects compared to previous-gen 2×0 units.

The bad stuff

I’ve listed the good stuff, so here’s the bad stuff.

Doesn’t come with a full printed manual

All you get is a chintzy “starter guide”. Boooooo, Garmin.

Yes, you can go to www.garmin.com, click on “Support” and get a full manual from there as a PDF, but geez.. Yeah I know Garmin is trying to save paper and all that which is a noble cause, but c’mon. Give us a real manual, will you?

No USB cable provided

Lots of people complain about this. Granted, 99% of us PC users have a mini-to-standard USB cable we use for our digital cameras, but the fact it doesn’t come with one sucks.

To note: Garmin GPSes are not “picky” when it comes to USB cables. Any mini-to-standard USB cable will work with it when plugging it into the PC; you don’t need a proprietary cable (thank God). But that still doesn’t make up for the fact it doesn’t come with one.

Sealed battery

When the battery eventually stops holding a charge in the future, there’s no way to change it. Unfortunately this is how many GPSes are and Garmin is no exception.

True, you can operate it plugged in, but that’s not the point. Some of us prefer to have our GPSes operate without that stupid power cord dangling and getting in the way.

In fact, the only time you get a GPS with a battery that can be changed is on the super-expensive ones. Not cool. You shouldn’t have to spend several hundred dollars just for a battery door.

Still prone to the dive when “sucked”

Even though the nuvi is super-light, when mounted on the glass via a suction mount it will eventually take a dive and fall off. And of course, it will fall between your feet while driving and at the worst possible moment.

Solution: Get a friction mount. I have one. And I won’t use GPS any other way.

This sucks because you have to spend extra cash just to make sure the thing stays put.

Maps current.. for now

The 2×5 comes with the “2009″ map data set. However you will eventually have to update it, and that costs $70 each time you do it.

However…

Garmin may finally have a cure for this with nuMaps Lifetime. For a one-time fee, you will get seasonal (indicating quarterly) map updates for the LIFE of your Garmin GPS device. It costs $119 for it, however this would pay for itself in short order after just 2 updates.

Overall verdict

It would be extremely difficult to find any GPS device that performs as well or packs as many useful features for under $140. Sure, there are cheaper units out there, but few hold a candle to Garmin in terms of performance and ease-of-use.

What else is in the same price range?

• Magellan RM 1200 – Magellan owners usually have no complaints, save for one – Magellan customer service really sucks.
• Pharos PDR150 – I’d suggest reading reviews for this one.
• Mio C320 – Mio was the first company to actually get inexpensive GPS done right the first time, and as far as I’m concerned they still do a good job of it. The C230 is even cheaper.
• TomTom ONE XL – Even with my mention of differing map data sets above, make no mistake, TomTom builds an outstanding GPS. It’s a great performer. I will give kudos to TomTom where they’re due, and this is one such example. Slightly more expensive than the Garmin nuvi 205 but not by much.

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